Mining machine



Sept. 7 1926. l

E J- DOBERs-rem 1599.043

MINING MACHINE Fil-ed August 21.. 1922 3 Sheets-ShagakY 2 l Maa/Mgg@ Mam?.

sept.Y 7, 192s. 1,599,043

E.. .1. DQBERSTEIN MINING MACHINE Filed Aungust 2l, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 5 f5 f Z l `ZE@ venan Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

- 1,."is19la3g UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE- EDARI)y J'. yDOBERSTEIN, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, lO GOODItIAN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MINING MACHINE.

, .Application ined August 21, 1922; `serial No.' 583,076.

This invention relates torimprovements in .kerf cutting mining machines and more particularly to thatclassof kerf cutting machines called over-cutting machines. More particularly, it relates to the slabbing type of overcutting machines. Such ma. chinesv are usually` mounted Aon wheels and supported on the mine track both while moving from place to place and while formingV ay kerf, andare provided with cutting mechanism adapted to be swung angularly so asto cut a kerf'transversely of the mine trackv or a't'the sides thereof. y

@ne ofthe principal objectsof the present invention is to produce a simple and efficient-machine ofthe classdescribed, in' which, for convenience in manufacture and operation, a conventional type of shortwall mining machine primarily designed for normal operation on the mine -floor,'is incorporated and utilized as the main power element of the overcuttingmachine. j Other objects of myv invention will appear from time to Vtime as the description proceeds.

- In carrying 'out my invention, the shortwall machine withits conventional cutter Varm andV underframe removed, isV rigidly mounted on a wheeled truck. A cutting element is pivotally mounted at the forward end of this truck to Swingin a horizontal plane, and is provided with elevating mechanism whereby the height of the cutting eiement may be adjusted so'as to cut a kerf at various levels. The operative devices associated with the shortwall mining machine motor are ,connected bylsuitable mechanismsY to perform the various functions ofthe machine, as will hereinafter morer fully appear. v Theinvention may. best be understood by reference to the accompanying' drawings in which Figurel is aside view ofa mining machine constructed in Yaccordance with my invention. g

Fig. 2 is a top planview of the machine shown in Fig. 1.V a

Fig. 3 is aV large detail view in vertical cross-section taken .on line 3-3 of` Fig. 2.

Fig.` t is a rear end lview showing the operatingmechanisin of' the machine.

"Fig, V5 is atop 'plan view of the operat-` ing mechanism at the rear end of the machine withV portions thereof brokenV away.

Referringto the drawings, 10 indicates a body Yportion of the truck, `supported on axles 11, 11, provided` witlnwheels 12, 12. The bodyV portion may be of any suitable construction for the purpose, as for inst-ance,

it may comprise a channel frame member 13 `provided with a top plate 14 forming a support for the mechanism mounted thereon. 15 indicates the Amain rbody portion of a shortwall mining machine which is mounted on the rear end of the truck as shown in Figs. 1 and'2. The shortwall machine is of the type provided with draft devices such as cables, chains or the like, andprimarilyv designed toslide bodily along `the ground i during the Vcutting operation. Such mining machines usually have as common features,

a main body portion, Aan underframe or shoe upon which 1t is'supported, a cutter bar eX- tendmg from beneath said body portion and provided with a. cutter chain, and a vertically disposed driving shaft extending downwardly fromsaid body portion and provided with a sprocket for driving the cutter chain. In adapting such a machine for vuse with-any improved form of over-cutting machine, the ordinary underframe, the cut-f ter arm and its cutter chain are removed,

and the main bodyportion l5 of the machine is placedfon and secured to the top plate 14 -of the truck by suitable means such as bolts 18, 18, The drivingV shaft 16 extends through the top plate 14 andV the sprocket 17 associated therewitlnwhich norrmally engagesthe cutter chain, is arranged below.v said-top plate, as clearly shown in Fig'. 1.v l Y The shortwall mining machine usedto illustrate my Vinvention is provided with a motorcasing 2() containing'a suitable motor such as an electric motor, having an armature pinion 22. An intermediate shaft 23 1s geared to said armature pinion and carries thereon abevel gear 24 and a Vworm 27. The chain sprocket 17 is driven from f the` bevel pinion 24 through thebevel gear 25 on shaftl and the clutch 26 (see Fig.

1)lby which'the driving connection between bevel gear 25A and the sprocket 17 may be engaged or disengaged at will.r

Asis well known to those skilled in the art, shortwall mining machines of this classv are moved Yand vcontrolled while .onA the ground by a suitable draft .device or devices.

In the machine illustrated herewith, two f `clutch 3S tor connecting,` the sha'lt driving`- inechanismtor drums 3i and 3l comprise the intermediate shaft geared with worin 2T 29, a variable Yendvvise movat-o the' motor and-provided as aforesaid, a worin gear speed rmechanism and an ble sha'lt. 36 driven by said variable speed mechanism and provided with interlocking); clutches 37 and' 3S on opposite ends thereof. The driving connection between clutch 3T and' drinn 3l comprises a sliatt S9, driving pinion l0 and gear 4l on said drinn. The driving connection between clntch 38 and drum 30' comprises a pinion 4t2, idler gear i3 andgear del on the latter drum. in the particular form ot sl'iortwall machine shown, ratchet devices are interposed between the gears 4l, del and their respective drums 3l and 30, but inasn'` ich as these devices ai'e not necessary when the shortwall machine is mounted on the truck, their details need not be described herein.

The variable sieed mechanism 35 illustrated is preferably ot` the planetary t'pe which may be ot any approved construction, provided with an externa f" 'iction hand 5l) and friction adjusting hai.

lle 5l lor the purpose o'l' transmitting variable speeds to thel shaft Details oit this transmissioi'i mechanism need not be describedexcepting to indicate a clutch ineinher :'32 `teatliered on the shaft 3G and provided vitli clutch jaws 53,-

adapted to be engaged either with a high speed member 5d or a .low speed ineinber 55 oi the planetary gear The clutch member 52 is provided with a .shi-iter yoke 5G and a control member 57 connected therewith. rlhe endwise movable shatt 35 eX- tends through the variable spe-ed mechanism and worin gear 2S) to form an axial bearing,` therewith. The clutch member coniprises anannuiar tlange :39 on one end. oit said shaft provided with clutch jaws Gti, G( adapted to engage with coriespondii'ied` el jaws Gl, Gl, on the connecting shatt $39 tendiii` to the lettliand drum oi.

the rigl'ithand drum 30 is locate-il ad'acent the inner. tace of the pinion l2 on the i hand side of' the machine. Said clutch coniprises a sleeve GQ i'iird to the shaft and extending throufrl'i the pinion to forni an axial bearing,` therewith. Clutch jaws (33, 6.5%., are carried by said sleeve and are adapted to engage coiresp'onding` clutch jaws G-l, 621;, preferably formed integral with the pinion 42. Means for shifting the shaft 36 coinprises a shifter yoke G5 mounted on the sleeve (32 an(L provided with shil'ter arms GG, 6G, which are operated by a suitable control handle G7. (See Fig. d.) in the position sho vn in Figs. et and 5, the shaft 3G is in neutral position, that is to say, clutches 37 and 8 a 7e 1ooth disengaffied. It will be sce that it thc control handle 5T is moved downwardly. the shaft will be moved longitudinally so as. to engage the clutch 3T to 'lorin a drum 3l. @n the other hand, it thc control handle is niioved upwardly, the shaft will he moved in the opposite direction, clutch 3T will be disengaged and the opposite clutch 38 will become engaged to form a. driving` connection with drum 3.0. By means ot 'this interloclred arrangement of the clutches, only one drum may be driven at atime.

The rope drums are also provided with 'friction devices primarily dcsig'uedto asin the control ot the shortwall machine .si it is niov-cd on the mine Hoor, but inasauch as 'the e i-eoiiding` devices arenot used ini-en the i` ning machine mounted on the tru'ik, as in the present invention, their con: struction and use need not be described iii the present application.` y

The manner in which the mechanism ot the shortwall machine above described is utilized to pertorin various functions oiL the ovcrcutting machine will hereinafter more l'iilly appear.

hei'erring'now to details oiiuthe cutting` mech nisni, it will be seen in Figs. l and 2 that a cutter arm 'T0 extends forwardly li'oin a :trame member 7l. at the 'torwai'd end ot the truclv l0. This `traine member is inonnted between a plurality7 ot upright supports T2. 72, and arranged to move vertically therel tween by suitable elevatingl mechanism includinfi` a plurality ot racks 73, 73, enga-ged by piinons 'T-l, by

rlhe turnta i le 'T ing;` rim portion ineirber and provided with a plurality ot' beaiing rollers 80, 80, placed about its periphery and extending inwardly to engage the periphery oi the annular member 7T underneath tl ejiiangi'e 78 thereot.

As heretofore descrihed, -the driving sprocliet 17 ot' the shortwall machine is arranged below the plate lll at the rear end driving connection with the rope of thek machine. Another sprocket yis mounted concentric with the turntable 77 in substantial horizontal alignment ,withv the Vpreferably comprises a split ring, of which one half is indicated at in- Fig.,3,to allow removal xof the sprocket 85 and associated parts. A chain sprocket V is mounted in the frame member 71 above the sprocket 85 and concentrictherewith. A vertically disposedshaft 96 is connected to rotate with sprocket 95. Said shaft extends downwardly from the-latter sprocket'and is `feathered in the hub 87 of sprocket 85.vr VThe arrangement is such that the framemember 71V and the sprocket 95 carried thereby may be moved vertically into various positions but yet have driving connection with 4the sprocket 85 `at all times through shaft- 96. The Vcutter chain 97 is engaged with and driven by the sprocket. 95 in the usual manner.

The mechanism for raising and the frame member 1 and cutter arm carried thereby comprises a gear 98 mounted on the hub portion of sprocket 95 yand adapted to engage a pinion 99 on the stub shaft 100. A gear 101 is mounted on a second stub shaft 102 and is adapted to mesh with the pinion 99. Said gear is vertically'movable on its shaft by meansof a clutch .collar 105,` and has a downwardly extending cone 103 adapted to be clutched with la worm 104 when gear- 101 is in its lowermost position as shown in.

Y Fig. 3 and is in mesh with the pinion99.

VVrm 104 drives a'worm .gear 106 mounted on transverse shaft 107. VThe 'latter` shaft is operatively connected'to the longitudinally disposed shafts 5, A75Y', already referred to, by means of miter gears 108,108 fPinions 73, 78, which engage the vertically disposed racks 72, 72, for raising and lowering the cutting` mechanism are mounted on these shafts as before described. The arrangement issueh that when the gear 101 is meshed with pinion 99, the cone `103 engages the worm 104 to drive the shafts 107 and chine.

lowering The motor of the machine may beV the, operation ofthe overcuttng machine.

'In the first place, either or bothofthe ldraft* ropes associated with drums 30 and 31 may be utilized to rotate the turntable and the cutter arm carried thereby. This is accomplished by attaching vone of the cables as .for

instance the cable 32 on the left hand drinn 81 to a portion of the turntable 76 and then. i

winding up the cable so as to rotate the turntable toward the rear end of the maf One means of attaching the free end of the cable 32 vis illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, Yin,V which it will be seen that an eye on the free end of said cable is connected to a pin 111 inserted through the periphery of the turntable. It isobvious that the rope may be attached to the turntable in many,r

other ways for the purpose of rotating the latter. VThe vturntable may also be rotated in the opposite' direction by several arrange-v ments of the `draft ropes.` The shortwall machine is provided with la plurality of guiding sheaves 112, 112, at the forward end and 113, 113, at the rear end, which may be utilized to train the draft cables about the machine in any desired manner. Means are valso provided for locking the turntable 76 in predetermined positions with respect to the'truck. Forthis purpose, the pin 111 already referred to may be used by removing a collar `116 countersunk in the surface of the turntable. The lower end of the pin may then'be dropped into a suitable aperture 117 formed in the plate 14. A series of such` apertures maybe provided so that the locked in any position desired;-

The draft mechanism may also used speed desired. This method of propelling the machine ,is particularly advantageous for feedi-ng the machine to the coal when it is making a slabbing7 cut along one side of the track.

j Means for propelling the truck along the mine track through. the medium of the truck wheels-isV provided by extending the right end 120, Yof shaft 36 which forms a driving connection to the drums 30 and'31 as already described. .On this extension is loosely mounted a sprocket121 in vertical alignment with a sprocket 122 on the rear axle 1p1V of the truck. A driving chain k connects sprocket 121 and the sprocket 122. -A clutch 124 affords an operative connection between shaft 36 and sprocket 121. vBoth axles are connected Vby ach'ain'g120. By means of the driving mechanism just described, which is operated through the variable speed planetary transmission device 35, it will bel seien ilo turntable andV cutting mechanism mayr be along the track-at various speeds to transport it from `place to place, or, under some conditions, to feed it' to the coal.

Au overcutting machine constructedv as above described is capable of performing all of the ordinary functions of the so-called slabbing overcutting machine. rlhat is to say, the cutter arm ma.v be swung pivotally to make an arcuate cut at the front r sides'of the machine, or may be held at one side thereof to make 'an elongated or slabbing cut at one side of the machine as the latter is moved along the track, as already described. The cutter arm may also be raised or lowered to cut at various levels. The means for operating the machine will readily be understood by anyone familiar with the use of machines of this class, from the foregoing detailed description of themachine.

l claim as my invention: v

l. In a machine of the class described, a frame having supporting whcc s, a cutting element comprising a projectii cutter bar mounted at the forward end oi said-frame to .swing about a substant fly vertical axis, and a cutter chain for id cutter bar, in combination with coal cu ting machine actuating mechanism of al cnveutional shortwall type primarily designed for operation upon the mine floor, comprising an actuator, flexible draft means and cutter chain drivin'g' mechanism both oiierative'ly connected with' said actuator throu-gfl'i suitable gear rcduction mechanism, said coa-ly cutting machine having its cutter bar and cutter chain removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted on said frame in position to have its flexible draft means coa'ct with said rotatably mounted cutting element to swine` the latter about its axis, and means allor-ding a driving connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism and the cutter chain of said cutting element.y

2. in a machine of the class described, a frame having supporting wheels, a cutting element comprisingl a projecting cutter bar mounted at the forward end of said frame to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter chain for said cutter bar, elevating means for moving said cutting element vertically respective to said frame, in combination with coal cutting machine actuating mechanism of a 'conventional shortwall type arimarily designed for operation upon the mine i'ioor, comprising an actuator, iiexible draft means and cutter chain driving mechanism both operatively connected with said actuator through suitable gear reduction mechanism, said coal cutting machine having its cutter bar and cutter chain removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted on said frame in position to have its fl xible draft means coact with said rotatably mounted cutting element to swing the latter about its axis, and means affording a drivin-g connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism and the cutter chain of said cutting element. y

3. in a machine of the class described, a f amc having supporting wheels, a cutting elem-entcomprising a projecting cutter bar mounted at the forward end ot said frame to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and `a cutter chain for said cutter bar, elcvating means for moving said cutting clement vertically respective to said frame, in combination with coal cutting machine aetu'atiug.mechanism of a conventional shortwall type primarily designed for operation upon the mine floor, comprising an actuator, iiexible draft means and cutter chain driving mechanism both operatively connected with said actuator through suitable gear reduction mechanism, said coal cutting machine having its cutter bar and cutter chain removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted on .said fram-e in position to have its flexible draft means coact with said rotatably mounted cutting element to swing the latter about its axis, means affording' a driving connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism and the cutter chain of said cutting element, and means operatively connecting said last named means with said elevating means.

it. In a machine of the class described, a frame having supporting. wheels, acutting` element co'n'iprising a projecting cutter bar mountet at the forward end of said frame to swing about a: substantially vertical aria, and a cutter chain for saidy cutter bar, in combination with coail cutting machine actuating mechanism of a conventional short` waill type primarily designed for operation upon the mine door, comprising an actuator, flexible draft means and cutter chain driving mechanism both operatively connected with saidactuator through .suitable gear reduction mechanism, said coal cutting machine having its cutter bar and cutter chain removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted on saidA frame in position to lia-ve its flexible draft meanscoact with said rotatably mounted cutting element to swing the latter about its axis, means afiording a driving connection between said actuator and said supporting` wheels, and means affording a driving' connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism and the cutter chain of said cutting element.

5. InI a` machine of the class described, a frame having supporting wheels, element comprising a projecting cutter bar mounted atthe forward end of said frame to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter cha-in for said cutter bar, in combination with a coal cutting machine of a conventional shortwa-lll type primarily designed for operation upon the mine floor,

a cutting comprising an actuator, flexible draft means and cutter chain driving mechanism both operatively connected with said actuator through suitable gear reduction mechanism,

VVsaid coal cutting machine having its cutter `frame having supporting wheels, a cutting element comprising a projecting cutter bar mounted at the forward end of said frame to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter chain for said cutter bar, elevating means for moving said cutting element vertically ,respective toV said frame, in combination with ycoal cutting machine actuating -mechanism'i of a 'conventional shortwall type primarily designed for operation upon the mine floor, comprising an actuator, flexible draft means and-cutterchain driving mechanism both operatively connected with said actuator through suitable gear reduction mechanism, said coal cutting machine having its cutter bar` and cutter chain removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted on said frame in position to have its flexible draft mea-ns coact with said rotatably mounted cutting element to swing the latter about its' aXis, means affording a driving connection between said actuator andsaid supporting wheels, and means affordinga driving connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism'and the cutter chain of said cutting element. A 7. In a machine of the class described, a

frame having supporting wheels, ay cutting element comprising a projecting cutter bar mounted at the forward end of said frame to swing about a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter chain for said cutterrbar, elevating means for moving said cutting element vertically'respective to said'frame, in combination with coal cutting machine actuating mechanism of a conventional shortwall type primarily designed fory operation upon the mine Hoor, comprising anv actuator,

flexible draft means and cutter chain driving mechanism both operatively connected with said actuator through suitable gear reduction mechanism, said coal cutting machine having its cutter bar and cutter cha-in removed therefrom, and rigidly mounted onk said frame in positionto have its fiexible draft means coact with said rotatably mounted .cutting element to swing the latter about its axis, means connected with and driven through the gearr reduction mechanism of said draft means affording a driving connection between said actuator andl'said supporting wheels, and means affording a driving connection between said cutter chain driving mechanism and thecutter chain of said cutting element.

S. In a mining machine, a base, a turntable rotatably supported thereonand including an annular depending rim portion in Vsupporting engagement with said base, a ringmember yremovably secured to said base provided with an outwardly extending iiange within lthe inner face of said rim, and

bearing rollers mounted in said rim portion having peripheral bearing on said ring beneath said flange and means affording lateral removal of said rollers from said rim to per- Vmit therlatter to be withdrawn bodily in a vertical direction from said ring.`

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 18 day of August,

EDWARD J. Donnnsrinn.y 

